Endowing EC with jurisdiction to set poll date could be consulted: Home Minister Sharma

Kathmandu - Home Minister Janardan Sharma today said consultations could be held on the issue of investing the Election Commission with authority to setting election date.

"The existing provision holds that the Government of Nepal is tasked with setting election date in consultation with the EC, and it does not mean that vice-versa is not possible. But keeping in view of security arrangement, the government sets poll date, and it does not mean to belittle the role of the EC in it," said Sharma.

He was attending a meeting of the State Affairs Committee under the Legislature-Parliament to hold deliberations on the Bill providing for election of the member of the state assembly -2074.

He also informed that the government was thinking about holding provincial elections in a single phase as far as possible.

On creating environment for Nepalis residing abroad to vote, Minister Sharma said the government was positive about the issue.

At the meeting, lawmakers proposed an amendment to various 35 clauses of the Bill. Also, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhi Prasad Yadav demanded that the commission be endowed with jurisdiction to set election date while reasoning that autonomy of the Commission would be called into question for lack of such authority.

He also suggested adopting full proportional system to save costs for holding elections. The next meeting to deliberate additionally on the Bill will convene on August 9 at 11 am.